Automobile door lock removal tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel of an automobile door lock in place includes a pair of clip-straddling members at the end of an elongated handle. The members are sized to fit inside the door and are spaced apart to form a slotted opening between them that permits the members to straddle a projecting tongue portion of the clip. A keeper, preferably an elongated leaf spring, extends lengthwise adjacent to the slotted opening and fits around the clip to hold it between the clipstraddling members after the clip is removed from the key barrel.

United States Patent [1 1 Snorgrass [451 Aug. 28, 1973 AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK REMOVAL TOOL [76] Inventor: Thomas J. Snorgrass, 2436 Adelia Ave., South El Monte, Calif. 91733 [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 179,321

[52] U.S. Cl. 29/225, 29/278, 81/3 E [51] Int. Cl B25!) 27/20 [58] Field of Search 81/3 R, 3 CP, 3 E,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,641,657 2/1972 Shufflebarger 81/3 R 2,835,028 5/1958 Wurzel 29/229 1,596,678 8/1926 Miller 81/3 R 1,699,856 1/1929 Pompano 81/3 E 2,138,725 11/1938 Brouhard ..8l/l19 Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Att0rneyWalter G. Maxwell and Christie, Parker &

Hale

[57] ABSTRACT A tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel of an automobile door lock in place includes a pair of clip-straddling members at the end of an elongated handle. The members are sized to fit inside the door and are spaced apart to form a slotted opening between them that permits the members to straddle a projecting tongue portion of the clip. A keeper, preferably an elongated leaf spring, extends lengthwise adjacent to the slotted opening and fits around the clip to hold it between the clip-straddling members after the clip is removed from the key barrel.

13 C, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 I N VENTOR. 77/ /1445 J SA/O/PGAALS AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK REMOVAL TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automobile door locks, and more particularly to a tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel of a conventional automobile door lock in place in the door of the automobile.

Automobile door locks of the push-button type, which are common on most automobiles today, are secured in place by a clip. The door lock comprises a key barrel which projects into the open space inside the automobile door. The clip straddles flats on the inside portion of the barrel, and is spring biased against the inside of the outer door panel to hold the key barrel in place. The key barrel also includes a movable element into which the key is inserted to lock and unlock the door.

When a lock change is to be made, the clip must be removed to free the key barrel. In the past, the clip has been removed from most automobiles by first removing the interior upholstery. Consequently, it usually takes at least an hour to remove the clip and replace the key barrel. This makes it inconvenient for the automobile owner, because he usually has to leave his automobile with the locksmith and return later to pick up his car. Moreover, the labor cost of changing the lock is high because of the time it takes to remove the upholstery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a tool that fits inside an automobile door to grab the key barrel retaining clip and remove it from the door to free the key barrel for removal from the door.

Briefly, the tool includes an elongated handle portion, and a pair of side-by-side clip-straddling members secured to the handle portion. The clip-straddling members are sized to fit into the open space inside the door and provide a pair of opposed wall surfaces adapted to straddle a projecting tongue portion of the clip. Retaining means associated with the clipstraddling members bear against the clip to hold the clip between the wall surfaces of the clip-straddling members, which permits the clip to be removed from inside the door without becoming dislodged from the tool.

Preferably, the clip-straddling members are rigid members fixed in a laterally spaced apart relation to form a slotted opening between them, the opening being slightly wider than the width of the tongue portion of the clip. Thus, the rigid clip-straddling members straddle the tongue portion of the clip, with the retaining means holding the tongue portion in the slotted opening.

In the preferred form of the invention, the retaining means is an elongated leaf spring extending along the length of the opening. In use, the spring deflects when the clip-straddling members grab the clip so as to pass around the outside of the clip to hold it between the clip-straddling members.

Thus, the locksmith is not required to move the interior upholstery of the automobile to gain access to the key barrel retaining clip. As a result, the time it takes to remove the key barrel is reduced to about three minutes, which provides a substantial savings in time and labor costs when compared with prior art methods of removal. A particular advantage of the tool is that door locks can be replaced in such a short time that it is convenient for the automobile owner to wait while the door lock is being replaced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is an elevation view showing an automobile door lock removal tool;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view taken on line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tool of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the use removing a clip from the key barrel of an automobile door lock; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an alternate form of the door lock removal tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. I and 2, an automobile door lock removal tool 10 includes an elongated handle 12, and a clip-grabbing device 14 secured to the end of the bandle. The clip-grabbing device includes an elongated arm 16 having a rounded end portion at its end forming a clip-engaging clip-straddling member 18. A separate relatively flat and circular member (or second clipengaging member) 20 is concentrically secured to first clip-engaging member 18 by a screw 22 extending through matching threaded holes 24 and 25 in the centers of the clip-engaging members 18 and 20, respectively. The screw extends through a pair of concentric washers 26 which act as spacers between clip-engaging members 18 and 20, thereby forming a narrow slotted opening 28 between the adjacent faces of the clipengaging members. The purpose of slotted opening 28 is described in detail below.

The end of clip-grabbing device 14 opposite clipengaging members 18 and 20 is pivotally secured to a flat portion 29 at the end of handle 12. A screw 39 extends through matching threaded holes 32 in arm 16 and flat portion 29 to pivotally secure clip-grabbing device 14 to the end of the handle. Preferably, arm 16 is adjustable so as to be held in various fixed angular positions relative to handle 12. The preferred means for adjusting the angular position of the arm (shown best in FIG. I) includes several circumferentially spaced apart, semi-circular notches 34 formed in the outer peripheral edge of arm 16. A half-head screw 36 threaded into flat portion 29 of the handle is sized to make a snug fit in any one of the notches 34 to hold arm I6 in a fixed angular position relative to the handle. The angle between the arm and the handle may be changed by rotating screw 36 one-half turn (to the position shown in phantom line in FIG. I) to permit rotation of clipgrabbing device 14 relative to the handle, as illustrated in phantom line in FIG. I. Once the desired angular orientation is set, arm 16 is secured in a fixed position by tightening screw 36 inside the confines of the particular notch 34 with which it is aligned. It will be appreciated that other means for adjusting the angular relationship between clip-grabbing means 14 and handle 12 may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. The purpose of the adjustment of the clipgrabbing device will be described in detail below.

Several circumferentially spaced apart, radially in wardly extending slots 37 are formed in the outer periphery of clip-engaging member 18. It will be readily apparent that slots 37 also could be formed in clipengaging member 20, or in both members 18 and 20.

An elongated arcuately curved leaf spring 38 is held by clip-engaging member 18, an angled end portion 40 of the spring being releasably held by a tight friction fit in one of the slots 37. Leaf spring 38 is curved to match the contour of the outer periphery of clip-engaging members 18 and 20, and extends for approximately one-third the perimeter of the clip-engaging members so as to front a substantial portion of slotted opening 28. Preferably, the spring lies against the outer peripheral edges of the clip-engaging members, although it may be spaced slightly from the clip-engaging members, as shown in FIG. 1. End portion 40 of spring 38 preferably is sized to be removable from slots 37 so that the position of the spring relative to the clip-engaging members may be adjusted, as illustrated in phantom line in FIG. 1. The purpose of adjusting the spring is described in detail below.

As shown best in FIG. 3, clip removing tool is used to remove a clip 42 that holds a conventional key barrel 44 in place in an automobile door. The clip has a pair of vertically spaced apart, outwardly projecting cars 46 that straddle flats 48 on the key barrel and urge against the barrel, through a spring bias gained on the inside of the door panel 50, to hold the key barrel in place.

In using the clip removing tool, clip-grabbing end portion 14 is placed through the narrow slotted opening in the door (not shown), after the window is rolled down to its open position. The narrow profile of clipgrabbing end portion 14 (illustrated best in FIG. 2) permits the latter to fit down through the narrow window opening of the door. Clip 42 has a tongue 52 at one end that projects laterally outwardly from the inner surface of door panel 50 into the open space inside the door between the door panel and the window. The angular position of the arm 16 relative to handle 14 is adjusted, before inserting the tool in the door, to the particular orientation that enables slotted opening 28 to approach tongue 52 of the clip. Generally speaking, the barrel and clip are located laterally outwardly of the vertical plane through the narrow window opening because of the curvature of the door. After the tool is inserted in the door, the handle is rotated (approximately 90) to turn clip-engaging members 18 and 20 so slotted opening 28 faces tongue 52 of the clip. (The curvature of the door provides substantial space inside the door to permit the tool to be turned after it is inserted in the door.) The clip is then removed by tilting handle 12 to move slotted opening 28 toward tongue 52 to enable clip-engaging members 18 and 20 to straddle the tongue, as shown in FIG. 3. The tool is then moved laterally away from the barrel, in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3, to pull the clip out of engagement with the barrel.

Leaf spring 38 deflects to pass over the outside of the clip when the clip-engaging members straddle tongue 52. The free end of the spring is bent away from the clip-engaging members to provide sufficient clearance for fitting the tongue between the spring and the clipengaging members. The spring acts as a keeper to retain the clip once it is removed from the barrel and thereby prevent it from falling down inside the door.

The distance between the narrow window opening and the key barrel and clip generally varies in different automobiles. The angular adjustment between clipgrabbing device 14 and handle 12 permits the tool to reach far enough below the window openings in substantially all types of automobiles to grab the key barrel retaining clip.

When grabbing the clip, it is desired to position leaf spring 38 immediately below the bottom of the clipengaging members (see FIG. 3) to be sure the spring passes under the clip. The adjustment of the leaf spring relative to clip-engaging members 18 and 20 permits the leaf spring to be located immediately below the clip-engaging members (as shown in FIG. 1) regardless of the angular position of clip-grabbing device 14 relative to handle 12.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate automobile door lock removal tool 54 that also proves successful in removing key barrel retaining clips. Tool 54 preferably is made of a flat piece of metal shaped to form a handle 56 and a bowed section 58. The bowed section has a forked end defining a pair of laterally spaced apart clipengaging members 60 and a slotted opening 62 between them. An elongated arcuately curved leaf spring 64 is secured to the reverse side of the upwardly opening face of the bowed section so as to extend lengthwise along slotted opening 62. Preferably, the spring is secured to bowed section 58 by rivets 66, although it may be welded to the bowed section.

Tool 54 generally works in the same way tool 10 does, although it obviously does not have the adjustable features of tool 10. In using tool 54, the user holds handle 56, while the bowed section 58 enables the tool to approach the key barrel retaining clip. Spring 64 retains the clip once the clip is grabbed by the forked end of the tool and removed from the key barrel.

I claim:

1. A tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel in place in the door of an automobile, the clip having a tongue that projects laterally outwardly from the inside of the door into the open space inside the door below a narrow, elongated slotted opening in the door for accommodating passage of the window for the door, the tool including an elongated handle, a pair of side-by-side clip-straddling members secured to the handle, the clip-straddling members and the handle being of a narrow profile sized to fit through the slotted window opening and into the open space inside the door, the two clip-straddling members including a pair of laterally spaced apart elongated exterior edge surfaces intersected by a pair of opposed clip-engaging surfaces forming a narrow elongated slot between the clip-straddling members into which the tongue of the clip fits so the clip-engaging surfaces can straddle the tongue and an elongated retaining member having a narrow profile for fitting through the slotted window opening, the retaining member extending lengthwise adjacent the exterior edge surfaces of the clipstraddling members to cover an elongated portion of the narrow slot between the clip-straddling members so the retaining member 'can fit around the body of the clip for holding the tongue thereof between the clipengaging surfaces of the tool to permit the clip to be removed from the inside of the door without becoming dislodged from'the clip-straddling members.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the exterior edge surfaces of the clip-straddling members have an outwardly bowed curvature, and in which the retaining member follows the contour of the exterior edge surfaces.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the retaining member includes an elongated leaf spring extending along the length of the slot between the clipstraddling members.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including means for adjusting the position of the leaf spring relative to the clip-straddling members.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including an elongated arm having one end which pivots on the end of the handle, and including means securing the clipstraddling members to the free end of the arm, and means for adjustably securing the arm in a fixed position relative to the handle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the clipstraddling members are formed by a forked end integral with the handle, the forked end defining a pair of laterally spaced apart tongs with a slotted opening between them for straddling the tongue of the clip.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the forked end of the tool is bowed.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the retaining member comprises an elongated leaf spring secured adjacent to the slotted opening and extending lengthwise relative to the opening, the leaf spring being secured to the side of the tool opposite the upwardly opening face of the bowed portion.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the length of the handle extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by the slot between the clipstraddling members.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the length of the handle extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by the slot between the clip-straddling members.

11. A tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel in place in the door of an automobile, the clip having a tongue that projects laterally outwardly from the inside of the door, the tool including an elongated handle, a pair of side-by-side rigid clip-straddling members secured to the handle, the clip-straddling members being sized to fit into the open space inside the door and being fixed in a spaced apart relation to form a slotted opening between them slightly wider than the width of the tongue of the clip so that a pair of opposed wall surfaces thereof can straddle the projecting tongue of the clip, and means associated with the clip-straddling members to bear against the clip for holding the tongue between the wall surfaces to permit the clip to be removed from inside the door without becoming dislodged from the clip-straddling members, the holding means including an elongated leaf spring adjacent the slotted opening between the clip-straddling members so as to extend along the length of the opening, and means for adjusting te position of the leaf spring relative to the clip-straddling members.

12. A tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel in place in the door of an automobile, the clip having a tongue that projects laterally outwardly from the inside of the door, the tool including an elongated handle, a pair of side-by-side clip-straddling members secured to the handle, the members being sized to fit into the open space inside the door and being formed by a forked end integral with the handle, the forked end defining a pair of laterally spaced apart and outwardly bowed tongs with a slotted opening between them for straddling the tongue of the clip, and means associated with the clip-straddling members to bear against the clip for holding the tongue of the clip in the slotted opening between the tongs to permit the clip to be re moved from inside the door without becoming dislodged from the clip-straddling members.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the holding means comprises an elongated leaf spring secured adjacent the slotted opening and extending lengthwise relative to the opening, the leaf spring being secured to the side of the tool opposite the upwardly opening face of the bowed section. 

1. A tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel in place in the door of an automobile, the clip having a tongue that projects laterally outwardly from the inside of the door into the open space inside the door below a narrow, elongated slotted opening in the door for accommodating passage of the window for the door, the tool including an elongated handle, a pair of sideby-side clip-straddling members secured to the handle, the clipstraddling members and the handle being of a narrow profile sized to fit through the slotted window opening and into the open space inside the door, the two clip-straddling members including a pair of laterally spaced apart elongated exterior edge surfaces intersected by a pair of opposed clip-engaging surfaces forming a narrow elongated slot between the clip-straddling members into which the tongue of the clip fits so the clip-engaging surfaces can straddle the tongue and an elongated retaining member having a narrow profile for fitting through the slotted window opening, the retaining member extending lengthwise adjacent the exterior edge surfaces of the clip-straddling members to cover an elongated portion of the narrow slot between the clip-straddling members so the retaining member can fit around the body of the clip for holding the tongue thereof between the clip-engaging surfaces of the tool to permit the clip to be removed from the inside of the door without becoming dislodged from the clipstraddling members.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the exterior edge surfaces of the clip-straddling members have an outwardly bowed curvature, and in which the retaining member follows the contour of the exterior edge surfaces.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the retaining member includes an elongated leaf spring extending along the length of the slot between the clip-straddling members.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including means for adjusting the position of the leaf spring relative to the clip-straddling members.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including an elongated arm having one end which pivots on the end of the handle, and including means securing the clip-straddling members to the free end of the arm, and means for adjustably securing the arm in a fixed position relative to the handle.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the clip-straddling members are formed by a forked end integral with the handle, the forked end defining a pair of laterally spaced apart tongs with a slotted opening between them for straddling the tongue of the clip.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the forked end of the tool is bowed.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the retaining member comprises an elongated leaf spring secured adjacent to the slotted opening and extending lengthwise relative to the opening, the leaf spring being secured to the side of the tool opposite the upwardly opening face of the bowed portion.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the length of the handle extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by thE slot between the clip-straddling members.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the length of the handle extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by the slot between the clip-straddling members.
 11. A tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel in place in the door of an automobile, the clip having a tongue that projects laterally outwardly from the inside of the door, the tool including an elongated handle, a pair of side-by-side rigid clip-straddling members secured to the handle, the clip-straddling members being sized to fit into the open space inside the door and being fixed in a spaced apart relation to form a slotted opening between them slightly wider than the width of the tongue of the clip so that a pair of opposed wall surfaces thereof can straddle the projecting tongue of the clip, and means associated with the clip-straddling members to bear against the clip for holding the tongue between the wall surfaces to permit the clip to be removed from inside the door without becoming dislodged from the clip-straddling members, the holding means including an elongated leaf spring adjacent the slotted opening between the clip-straddling members so as to extend along the length of the opening, and means for adjusting te position of the leaf spring relative to the clip-straddling members.
 12. A tool for removing the clip that holds the key barrel in place in the door of an automobile, the clip having a tongue that projects laterally outwardly from the inside of the door, the tool including an elongated handle, a pair of side-by-side clip-straddling members secured to the handle, the members being sized to fit into the open space inside the door and being formed by a forked end integral with the handle, the forked end defining a pair of laterally spaced apart and outwardly bowed tongs with a slotted opening between them for straddling the tongue of the clip, and means associated with the clip-straddling members to bear against the clip for holding the tongue of the clip in the slotted opening between the tongs to permit the clip to be removed from inside the door without becoming dislodged from the clip-straddling members.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the holding means comprises an elongated leaf spring secured adjacent the slotted opening and extending lengthwise relative to the opening, the leaf spring being secured to the side of the tool opposite the upwardly opening face of the bowed section. 